Mat & Kat's big bike trip
Day 15 Aix-en-Provence
Mat: We left beautiful Arles along a long, shady tree-lined boulevard in dappled shade, heading east. After 10km we stopped for the worst espresso of the trip so far, but at least it was caffeine.
From there it was a flat, quiet 30km to Salon de Provence, where we stopped for lunch 1. The camembert we bought this morning had turned to a delicious gooey liquid so we spread it on the fresh bread with a spoon.
This is now the longest duration bike ride we've done in 20 years. Each morning my thighs are a bit sore when we first start cycling, but that goes within a kilometre, and then it seems effortless, at times I forget that I'm even cycling. It's all just automatic now. Jinba ittai, rider and horse as one.
The afternoon was gorgeous, along tiny roads winding through fields of wildflowers. We stopped next to a giant field full of poppies so I could frolic in it. There was a long, gentle climb all the way up to Éguilles, where we stopped for a drink and snack, then downhill all the way into Aix En Provence.
Even by Provenance standards, Aix is breathtakingly beautiful. You should definitely visit here.
Love, Kat & Mat x